Official Release F2 Contact DNS Todd Weiler 286-3214

Official Release F2 Contact DNS Todd Weiler 286-3214 News Release - News Conference 3rd DNS Sting Nets 8 Landlords Students still preyed upon by unscrupulous landlords

CONTACTS: Alderman Michael D’Amato, 286-3765 City Attorney’s Office, 286-2601 Dept. Neighborhood Services (DNS), Commissioner, Martin Collins, 286-2543 Jim Hill, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 229-5024 Various Landlord, Neighborhood and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee officials

DATE: Tuesday, April 17, 2007.

LOCATION: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Klotsche Center, East Entrance 3409 N. Downer Ave (Parking structure nearby.)

Milwaukee, WI — Neighborhoods continue to suffer the affects of over-renting in areas near local campuses. The results of a City of Milwaukee spring “sting” operation indicate little change in landlord and student behavior. A recent third sting by City of Milwaukee inspectors has netted 8 landlords operating contrary to municipal code. A similar number have been stung each year despite continuing efforts to dissuade such behavior. The Department of Neighborhood Services and other City officials announced the names of the landlords who were served citations after being caught offering to rent to an illegal number of students. Some students knowingly participate in hopes of lower rent, only to get burned when caught. While the students risk their financial and personal safety, the landlord pockets their cash. The DNS sting operation hopes to reduce illegal landlord behavior and its impact on the neighborhood.

An ordinance change in 2004, followed by a sting operation created a lull in this type of illegal activity, but according to today’s results, the money is too hard to resist. City code limits apartment or living units to three unrelated persons per unit. Any more than that requires a rooming house license. The citations issued carry a potential fine from $150-$5000. Given the recurring and pervasive problem, City officials are continuing to ask judges for a higher fine than the typical $408 fine to offset the lucrative profits made by unscrupulous landlords.

The high demand for housing near the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee results in a host of high-density issues. Some landlords exploit that high demand and compound the problem to maximize their profits. High litter, excessive garbage, loss of parking, excessive noise and other quality of life items are impacted when illegal rooming houses are allowed to exist. Rooms rented in basements and attics with one exit can be fire traps. In addition to the obvious life-safety issues of over-crowding, it can also discourage owner-occupied property and artificially inflate property values. Without a rooming house license, the code allows only three unrelated persons per unit no matter how many bedrooms.

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The landlords served citations thus far are: Violator Violator Residence Address of Violation 1. Alan Roberts Milwaukee 1804A N. Astor St. 2. Hristos Mihos Milwaukee 2722 N. Cramer Ave. 3. Mike Rego Milwaukee 1924 N. Oakland Ave. 4. Don Devine Milwaukee 1748 N. Arlington Pl. 5. Wayne Lutynski Thiensville 2831 N. Frederick Ave. 6. Maureen Marx Milwaukee 2915 N. Booth St. 7. Kris Messegee Milwaukee 3328 N. Bartlett Ave. 8. Daniel Pauli Milwaukee 1707 N. Prospect Ave.

City officials speaking on the matter will include DNS Commissioner Martin Collins. Alderman D’Amato will be available for interviews after the Common Council meeting. Speaking in support of the sting will be representatives from the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association. Many of the property owners have been negatively impacted by the illegal practices of other landlords. University officials supporting the student’s interests will be speaking.

While students may think they the cheap rent is worth the risk, they stand to lose the most. Once a landlord has been caught renting an illegal unit, landlords have been known to simply evict the extra tenants, keeping the security deposit and leaving the remaining students to pay the entire rent. The current ordinance makes it illegal to make the OFFER to rent to more than 3 unrelated persons in an unlicensed facility. A second conviction under the new ordinance may result in all the tenants being evicted, as the owner would have to reapply for an Occupancy permit. That process could take up to two months. Meanwhile, students may face the hardship of looking for a new place to live in mid-semester when everything nearby is rented.

Another negative impact is property value escalation. Property values are artificially inflated in the area due to the illegal profits that can be made in over-renting multi-unit apartments in the University area. Code compliant landlords and owner occupants are out-bid when units go up for sale, resulting in the negative condition of a high absentee landlord rate.

Further information about these and any Milwaukee properties is available at www.milwaukee.gov/dns. To report an overcrowding condition, call the Department of Neighborhood Services at 286-2268.

______For more information contact: DNS Public Information and Training Coordinator, Todd Weiler, desk 286-3214 cell 708-3360